North London Mums is the place for everything of interest to North London Mums and North London Dads. We want to help other parents to find the best activities to do with their families, the best shops and websites to visit, and the most child friendly restaurants to eat in. We believe in supporting local businesses and other mumpreneurs and in building communities.

Go-on- have a special day on Mother's Day

Sunday is of course Mothers Day/Mothering Sunday (how could you
forget?) and so if you are looking for some special activities to celebrate
the day, we have picked out a few ideas:

Tea and fashion combined at The Berkeley- heaven!

Our lovely friends at Zebra Ceramics are offering a free hot drink and cake for mums painting at Zebra Ceramics in Muswell Hill on Sunday. And if you are a Dad- well silver print jewellery is always a winner and you can order an impression kit online for £10, and there is a 15% discount for all orders over £100, valid until 18 March.

Silver print jewellery from Zebra Ceramics

There's plenty to do for a family day out...

If you fancy a special day out, there is 20% off tickets for London Zoo on Sunday. Tickets need to be bought in advance on line.

Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton

If you are feeling Jubylicious! then head to the V&A's exhibition: "The Queen by Cecil Beaton". The exhibition features a selection of stunning pictures of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II from days of her teenage princesshood to her current role
as reigning monarch.The V&A Shop has also usefully selected a range of suitable Mothers Day gifts!

On a more fantastical note, Mums (accompanied by their ticket-paying offspring) get free entry to
Ripley's Believe It or Not! on Mother's Day, March 18. The latest
exhibits include a life-size knitted Ferrari.

Or head to Hampton Court Palace which is hosting Florimania 2012 from 16- 18 March. See stunning baroque-inspired flower arrangements in William III's Apartments. Flower arranging demonstrations will be available at 11:30, 12:30 and 14:00 each day. There's even a free hot drink with every floral cupcake purchased (download voucher in advance!)

For some (well- earned) retail therapy, head to the Vintage Fashion Fair held at Cecil Sharp House, NW1 (11am - 5pm), offering a large selection of beautiful vintage pieces. There will be a fantastic range of vintage jewellery from the very
affordable to the very special. For the first 20 Mums who are
bought to the fair by their daughters/sons there will be a treat
awaiting them of handmade chocolates. Entrance to the fair is £3.00. Keep an eye on the website for free ticket offers.

Keeping on the retro theme, Anita's Vintage Fashion Fairs is holding a Mother's Day special in Notting Hill, 11am- 5pm. Featuring 28 traders all carefully selected for their superb knowledge and expertise, a free flower for Mum on entry, and a dedicated personal vintage fashion stylist.

For something entirely mum-focussed, head to the wonderful sounding The Idler Academy, W2 for "Cooking with Flowers: A Teatime Event" (although check availability in advance!) hosted by Lucia Stewart. Sip a cup of violet tea as you learn how to use British flowers in
delicious teatime classics. Enjoy tastings and demonstrations and
scribble down recipes for Rose Cream Scones, Lavender Biscuits and
Flower-infused cordials…

Also on the tea theme, head to the Sanderson Hotel to partake of their (weekly) Mad Hatters Tea Party. Guests are invited to “tumble down the rabbit hole” and enjoy the wonderful world of tea in the beautiful Courtyard Garden. It promises a delicious afternoon filled with gastronomic adventures- and from the description it certainly sounds as such ("Guests will be grinning like Cheshire Cats after blueberry lollipops turn their tongues from hot to cold and hazelnut praline ice cream lollipops explode with a single bite "). ! Cost £35. No fancy dress!

We want to eat this picture of tea at The Berkeley

If you love tea (and don't we all) then there's a host of places to head, but we particularly like the sound of these: Indulgent, afternoon teas can be found at Claridges where mother's Day Afternoon tea will be served with Champagne and Heart shaped macaroons. A Mother's Day Afternoon champagne tea is also on offer at the Dorchester, served with champagne and a posy of mother's day flowers. Truly modern mums head to tea at The Berkeley where Prêt-à-Portea adds a creative twist to the classic elements of the
traditional English afternoon tea with cakes and pastries resembling the
latest catwalk designs for the style conscious. Yum.